Steam Railways along Rhine and Ruhr

Travel to the heart of Western Germany and experience enchanting heritage railways embedded in the stunning landscape of the Rhine and Ruhr regions. Vineyards, fairytale castles, old industrial landmarks and impressive cathedrals form the backdrop of your holiday.

• Based in the attractive city of Dortmund, which is famed for its monorail, you will enjoy such unique highlights as a private charter with a Prussian P8 along the famed Ruhrtalbahn.
• Take a trip by the mighty narrow gauge Mallet locomotive over the steeply graded Brohltalbahn.
• Steam at the industrial Hespertalbahn in Essen and the preserved railway.
• Enjoy a steam charter at the Mühlenstroth park railway, replete with run-pasts.
• Experience some of Europe’s top sights by steam train, rack railway and river boat, including the iconic ‘Schwebebahn’ suspension railway in Wuppertal.
  

Wednesday 29th May
London to Dortmund

You depart from London St Pancras on a Eurostar service to Brussels, then change onto a high speed train to reach Cologne, from where you continue by ICE to Dortmund. This attractive city boasts modern and historic landmarks and is known for its vibrant public transport network that includes two different light rail systems and a monorail suspension railway! You will be given a complimentary public transport rover ticket, allowing you to explore individually during the free time of the tour. Tonight a welcome dinner is served at the hotel. (D)

Thursday 30th May
Dortmund monorail and discovery of the Ruhr region, Wuppertal Schwebebahn
After a leisurely breakfast you visit Dortmund’s unique, 3 km long suspension railway, which is known as H-Bahn and serves the expansive university campus. Fully automated, this monorail system dates from the 1980s and provides a fun travel experience. After the visit, you can take advantage of your regional rover ticket to explore the various different railway highlights of the Ruhr region at your own pace. This includes scenic main lines through the industrial heartland of Germany as well as numerous interurban tramways. One obvious attraction and option is the Wuppertal ‘Schwebebahn’ from 1900, the historic predecessor of the Dortmund monorail. While you are free to explore the region at your leisure, your Tour Manager will lead a visit to the Wuppertal Schwebebahn. In the evening you reconvene at the hotel for another dinner. (B D)

Friday 31st May
Main line steam on the Ruhrtalbahn with Prussian P8 38 2267
After travelling to the famed railway museum at Bochum-Dahlhausen, a true tour highlight awaits you as the elegant 4-6-0 tender locomotive 38 2267 of 1918 vintage hauls you on the freight-only line from Bochum to Wengern-Ost, meandering along the namesake River Ruhr through hilly terrain. This 22 km long line passes through the industrial heartland of Germany and is ideal for photo stops and run-pasts. After the 4-hour round-trip you once again have ample free time to further explore the Rhine and Ruhr region using your public transport rover ticket. (B L)

Saturday 1st June
Steam at the Hespertalbahn in Essen and UNESCO World Heritage at Zollverein
Today you visit the industrial heart of the Ruhr region and the famed steelmaking city of Essen. In the south of the city along namesake River Ruhr lies a storied industrial railway with a fleet of active tank engines. Your private charter train will be hauled by the 0-6-0T Nr. D5 from 1956. Photo stops, run-pasts and on train refreshments will once again feature. After the visit to the steam railway, there will still be time to visit the massive Zollverein industrial heritage site in Essen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B L)

Sunday 2nd June
Steam at the Mühlenstroth park railway
After a leisurely breakfast and a late start you have a direct transfer to the Mühlenstroth park railway, where you will enjoy a private steam charter on the preserved 600 mm railway. Cared for by dedicated volunteers, this ‘Feldbahn’ (field railway) boasts a formidable collection of impressive tank engines, many dating from the first years of the 20th Century. During your private steam charter there, numerous run-pasts and photo stops will be staged.

After the visit, you return to Dortmund and are free to explore the city and its public transport attractions. In the evening, there’s another dinner at the hotel. (B D)

Monday 3rd June
Mallet steam locomotive at the “Vulcan Express” and Drachenfels rack railway
The well-known “Vulcan Express” runs on the 17.7 km long Brohltalbahn on the eastern bank of the Rhine.

The picturesque metre gauge line was saved by dedicated volunteers and is one of the oldest heritage railways in Germany. For years the”Vulcan Express” was hauled by impressive Henschel-built diesel locomotives, but since 2015 the massive 0-4-4-0 Mallet locomotive 11sm has been back in steam after decades out of traffic. Built in 1906, this flagship of the railway will haul the privately chartered train over the full length of the line, including the steep section from Oberzissen to Engeln, with 5% gradients! En route there will be several run-pasts, as the line is very photogenic with a stone-arched viaduct, a tunnel and the steep hillside landscape. Take delight as the powerful Mallet battles the formidable gradients. During your return run, refreshments will be served on the train.

In the afternoon you continue to nearby Königswinter, which is located on the east bank of the Rhine near Bonn and boasts one of only four rack railways in Germany. You take a ride on the 1.5 km long Drachenfelsbahn, which originally opened in 1883 and is operated entirely by vintage electric railcars. There will be ample time to immerse yourself in the scenic and cultural wonder of Königswinter, which is framed by the towered and turreted Schloss Drachenburg. From Königswinter you take the ‘Stadtbahn’ light railway to Bonn Hbf and from there catch a train back to Dortmund. In the evening another dinner is served at the hotel. (B L D)

Tuesday 4th June
Vintage tram tour of Düsseldorf, scenic Rhine cruise in Duisburg
To cap the holiday in fine fashion, you make a late morning visit to the vibrant metropolis of Düsseldorf, where you will explore the historic city centre and various Rhine bridges on a private tram tour aboard a historic vehicle.

This will allow you to see the most interesting parts of the city and the river landscape, as well as cover some “rare track”. After some free time along the Rhine embankment and to have a look around the city yourself, you transfer to Duisburg in the late afternoon and enjoy a private charter cruise to explore this fascinating port city, home of Germany’s largest inland harbour along the River Rhine. Duisburg’s port is dotted by old warehouses, traditional industry and stylish modern architecture, making it fascinating to explore by ship. You enjoy a full dinner buffet with complimentary refreshments on your cruise boat. After the dinner cruise you return to Dortmund by train. (B L D)

Wednesday 5th June
Return to London
You return to London today by ICE and Eurostar trains. (B)